More than 99 percent voting in North Korea, how are elections held in Kim Jong Un’s country?

Elections were held in North Korea for the country’s highest legislative body on Sunday, March 15. The country’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un also took part in this voting. Government media released a video of him, in which he is seen casting his vote at a polling booth in a coal mine area.

What percentage of voters cast their vote?

According to the Election Commission, about 99.1 percent voters exercised their franchise in this voting. These elections are held for five years. The representatives elected through this process become part of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the highest legislative body of the country. This institution has the authority to make laws and approve various government policies in the country. However, experts believe that the real opposition has no role in this House and most of the decisions are taken in accordance with the government and the ruling leadership.

North Korea holds elections for the Supreme People’s Assembly, with state media showing Kim Jong Un voting at a coal mine while promoting the coal industry’s role in economic plans pic.twitter.com/P9vqIDuALR

— Reuters (@Reuters) March 16, 2026

The political system of North Korea is based on a centralized communist system. The leadership of the country is in the hands of Kim Jong Un, who has received this post as a family inheritance. He is not only the head of the government but also the supreme commander of the country’s army. He also has the final authority on important policy and strategic decisions.

There are a total of 687 seats in the country’s Parliament i.e. Supreme People’s Assembly. Elections are held on these seats, but generally only the ruling party, the Labor Party of Korea and its allies field candidates. In most cases, only one candidate is in the fray for each seat, in whose support voters are expected to cast their votes.

At what age do citizens have the right to vote?

According to the Constitution of North Korea, citizens above 17 years of age have the right to vote. In theory anyone can contest and vote, but in practice the electoral process is considered highly controlled. Voting is done through ballot paper, in which a mark of support is placed in front of the name of the candidate. If a voter wants to vote against a candidate, he or she has to do so publicly under a separate process.

According to experts, the election process in North Korea is considered symbolic. Analysts say that through these elections the government tries to limit the anger of the people at the local level and give formal legitimacy to the administrative system. Although it is officially considered a part of the democratic process, it is not considered a truly competitive election at the international level.